Introducing the Bible

 

    To get to know the Bible, you need to have a Bible.  It is good to have a journal to record what you learn, prayers, or anything else related that comes to your mind so that you can focus.  The Bible is the greatest treasure you can ever have.  It is God's Word in writing to inspire people to His teachings, reproof, correction, and righteous training.  It is a true book on love.

    When you read the Bible, pay attention to the details in the versus.  Every phrase touches on words to help you in your daily life.  That does mean that you have to learn a little context about the times it was written.  This is a life journey.  It can't be learned in a day, week, or even a year.  God uses this book to reveal Himself to you.  Relationships take time.  The focus of the Bible is God's glory in man's redemption.  It becomes more clear with Jesus.

    The Bible is truth that you can trust.  Allow the Holy Spirit to work in you as your read God's Word. It was written by approximately 40 different men in several countries.  It has a touch of different cultures.  It went into writing around 1400 BC and finished around 90AD.  Depending on when and by whom, it was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.  

      The Bible is broken down into groups.  The first section is the old testament.  It contains 34 books starting with the Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  It is the beginning of creation, God's people delivered, atonement, wondering, and the Promised Land.  

    The next set is the History of God's People:  Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.  Then comes the poetry: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs.  

    Then the Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel.  They are no more important than the minor prophets.  The books are just longer and hold more information.  The Minor Prophets come after the Major Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nabam, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.  

    Malachi ends the old testament because God goes silent for about 400 years until it is time to introduce Jesus into the world.  Jesus opens the door to the new testament.  The ew testament is about the life of Jesus, salvation, beginning of Christianity, lifestyle of a Christian, and the future.  

    The new testament has 27 books beginning with the Gospel: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  These contain the life of Jesus on earth.  Next is the history of the early church: Acts.  Then comes Paul's Letters:  Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.  

    Paul wrote the most letters, but he is not the only writer of how Christians should live.  After Paul's letters, comes the general letters:  Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude.  The Bible ends with the Prophecy Letter: Revelations.  This prophecy has not come to pass yet.  It is about the return of Jesus, his reign, his glory, and the eternal state of believers and unbelievers.  Since the Bible is true, you can trust that this will happen.         

Proverbs 3:1-7, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Peter 1:19-21, & 1 John 2:1-6